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n/I.T.1 E.A.DB.` GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

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GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

Patented June 14,1898.

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MELLRD TRELEAVEN READE, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

coLLAPsIBLE BOAT.

SPECFICATIN forming part of Letters PatentNo. 605,513, dated June 14, 1898. y Application filed December 15,1896. Serial No. 615,790. (No model.) Patented in England February 25, 1896, No. 4,250.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MELLARD TRELEAVEN READE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Liverpoohin the countyof Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boats, (for which I have received Letters Patent in England, dated February 25, 1896, No. 4350,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its principal object a method of constructing collapsible boats, whereby the skin of the vessel can be made of solid comparatively unyielding material for the most part and yet that it shall be able when notin use to fold up into a comparatively small compass. Vhen folded, the boat takes the form of a flat shallow box or vessel of the necessary depth or thickness to contain floorgratings,side stringers,stretchers, seats, dac., which for the most part I make so as to fold up with the boat automatically.

The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one forni of my improved collapsible boat extended into l shape for use; Fig. 2, a plan thereof; `Fig. 3,

a sectional elevation thereof on the line y of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a half-plan of the boat collapsed; Fig. 5, an elevation thereof; Fig. 6, a cross-section amidships of the boat when extended; Fig. 7, a cross-section amidships of the boat collapsed; Figs. S and 9 are fragmentary views, on an enlarged scale, showing details of construction; Fig. 10 a half-elevation of the boat jointed at the bottom as wellas at the sides and capable of folding into an even smaller compass than the preceding examples; Fig.11,an end view thereof; Figs. l2, 13, la, 15, and 16, diagrammatic cross-sections amidships of the same boat, showing the boat extended and the boat collapsed and the various positions1 the boat assumes'in the process of collapsing; Figs. 17 to 225, inclusive, are diagrammatic views which will be hereinafter explained. Fig. 2a is a fragmentary side elevation of a boat llaving a square stern; Fig. 25, a plan thereof; Fig. 26, a half end elevation looking toward the stern; Figs. 27 and 2S, half end elevations of the boat partly collapsed, and Fig. 29 the boat entirely collapsed.

I have foundthat in collapsible` or folding boats constructed of flexible sections or pieces of superficially rigid or almost rigid material with curved or straight edges hinged together continuously at those edges and capable of being expanded to form a boat it is advisable and nearly always expedient to make all or at least some of the joints with their adjacent edges of dissimilar curvature-that is to say, of dissimilarcurvature when the pieces are laid iiatbefore being hinged together. My invention there fore comprises the' idea of so forming the supercially rigid but longitudinally flexible parts or sections that when laid flat they shall be of dissimilar shape or curvature, but when bent from end to end laterally the edges `thereof shall coincide or assume substantially the same curve.

Referring rst to Figs. lto 9,'inclusive, of

the drawings, it will be seen that the boat is curved lengthwise from stem to stern when extended into shape for use, but can be folded to the form of a ilatbox or vessel when required to be stowed away. To enable me to secure this result, I make theadjacent edges `-be able to be hinged together and. the sides be folded or extended, as required.` The sides are by preference frniedof three lon.- gitudinal pieces orsections-first, thebilge Stringer or straks B; secondly; the main side O,'and, thirdly, the hinged `piece-D-v-capable of lying flat against the-sidewhen' the vessel is collapsed or of standing out" sidewise into the vessel to form a strengthening" web or iiange when the boat is opened out for use.- The stringer or strake B, which is interposed and hinged between the curved edges of the main side O and the bottom A, has its shape determined according to the model of the boat required and with .regard to the form the boat is desired to assume when collapsed.

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It is a long but comparatively narrow strip of Wood, usually in two thicknesses, or other suitable material capable of being easily bent longitudinally, but, generally speaking, having one or both of its edges of less pronounced curvature when laid flat than the edges of the main sides and bottom are when laid fiat. The flexible pieces D, moreover, will have the curve of their edges where they are hinged to the sides corresponding to the lateral curves of the sides where they join them, so that they also will hinge equally well at all points on the inside of the boat; but when folding against the inside of the boat they lose their sheer and enable the sides also to straighten out when the boat is folded. These pieces are connected together by a folding stretcher or thwart E, which is generally used as an appliance for extending the boat and keeps it open when in use. The overlapping ends of the two parts of said stretcher are pivoted together in the center at c, and one end of each is pivoted to the piece D, which, as already stated, is hinged to the sides, the stretcher being arranged to keep the sides rigid in the extended position, but to fold up inside the boat when collapsed. There can be two or more of these stretchers in the length of the boat, if desirable, but one is usually found to be sufficient except in large boats, and they mayform the cross-seats for the person rowing the boat. I prefer, however, to provide a separate plank e over the stretcher E, which forms the cross-seat and at the same time renders it doubly sure that the stretcher will not fold accidentally when the boat is in use on the water. For the further purpose of spreading the sides near the end or ends of the boat and to give rigidity to the boat when in use, I provide wood molds F or stretchers hinged to the floor at each end and seats f2 hinged to F at one end and engaging the fioor of the boat at the other. The molds F can fold at on the floor and the seats fiat on them. Vhen raised, the molds wedge apart the converging edges of the webpieces D and keep them in that position. The molds are prevented from swinging past the perpendicular by chocks on the inner edges of the webs D, and they are prevented from returning by the seats engaging the floor.

G are ring-bolts attached to the boat for towing purposes; H, chafing-pieces, by preference formed in short lengths to enable the boat to bend freely; f, slats forming a iiexible floor-grating; c2, a support for the crossseat; e3, a catch to hold the boat collapsed.

The longitudinal parts or sections A, B, C, and D,'forming the bottom and sides of the boat, are constructed of superficially cornparatively rigid material, yet sufficiently elastic or flexible to be able to straighten out or partially straighten out their lateral curves or some of them when the boat is folded. A suitable Vmaterial is wood or steel or aluniinium plates strengthened or not with angles,Ts, &c. ,0r, if desired, I may have a lining of pine, ash, or white-cedar boards and a covering of Willesden card, pegainoid, or other Waterproof extremely tough elastic material. The main sides and bottom are hinged to the bilge-stringers B by the following arrangements, set forth in Figs.' S and 9, in which the sides and bottom are shown constructed of two skins I I of mahogany or other suitable wood in narrow widths laid to .cross one another diagonally at suitable angles and nailed or riveted together, with painted calico J or calico and marine glue between.

The longitudinal joint shown in Fig. S is adapted for the smaller class of boatssuch as punts, yachts, dinghies, te-in which the bilge-stringer B is formed of two thicknesses of planking K, having two layers of oiled canvas 7a riveted between them, the edges of this canvas being bifurcated and riveted over the sides C and bottom A. Charing-strips H may be placed so as to protect the edges of the canvas.

In Fig. 9, which shows a joint for larger boats, L is a strip of balata belting or other suitable material, which is riveted through the planking; 7s., a strip of canvas on Vthe outer side of the boat and secured by riveting with the combing-strips M through the canvas It, inner planking I', and the strip ofv balata belting L. rlhe canvas 7c is left sufficiently loose to enable the side C to hinge upon the Stringer when the boat is collapsed. By these arrangements a thoroughly waterproof hinge is produced. It is of course obvious that other forms of hinge can be used in special cases and various combinations of metal hinges covered with continuous webs of canvas or other suitable material to render the joints Water-tight.

To fold the boat, all that is necessary is to disen gage the boards f2 from the Hoor and fold them, together with the pieces F, flat onto the iioor. By collapsing the stretcher E the main sides will now fold flat with the bottom, the sides and bottom straightening ontlengthwise, while the stringers B are only partially straightened and remain curved laterally, as shown in Fig. 4t, the boat being held closed by means of a catch e3. To unfold the boat, the catch c3 is unfastened and one of the sides C is raised, this raising causing the opposite side to automatically rise also, the sides and bottom bending lengthwise of the boat from end to end, the stretcher E straightening out by being pulled toward the bow until locked in position. The boat by its own weight may also be extended by lifting at each end. The pieces F and f2 are then unfolded and locked to make the boat rigid. These operations can be performed very rapidly, and the boat is then ready for launching. The longitudinal piece D or stringer is so disposed in a curve and hinged to the laterally-curved folding sides that as the sides straighten the Stringer straightens in unison and folds up IOO IIO

i keelson A inserted between.

against the side; but when the boat is expanded it lies edgewise to the side and distributes the thrust and tension of the stretcher.

It will be obvious Vfrom the above description that the bottom of the boat may be constructed equally well with an additional pair of hinged joints longitudinally along the center. Figs. 10 to 16 show an arrangement of this character in which the bottom A is divided into two parts and a strin ger or eXible By this arrangement the boat can be folded into a smaller space than if the bottom be made in one piece. The boat when opened out for use is shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12. Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16 are midships cross-sections of the boat, illustrating its different positions while being closed up. The remaining reference-letters indicate parts which have already been described in the earlier part of the specification. I do not confine myself to any particular number of stringers, as I may even have more than three in each boat, according to the size, shape, and compass into which the boat is required to be folded.

Figs. 17 to 23, inclusive, illustrate as examples the curves or shapes that the edges of the superiiciall y rigid but longitudinally ileXible parts (of which the boat or vessel is built up) inayassume, showing their dissimilar curvature when laid fiat before being put together. i Thus the stringer B (shown in Fig. 17) has its two opposite edges dissimilar in curve, and both edges are dissimilar in-their curves from the curve of the adjacent edge of the longitudinal side piece C, Fig. 18. To hinge the edges of B to the bottom edge of C and to the edge of A, B is bent laterally 4from end to end, so that its edges shall follow the curve of the bottom edge of C andthe adjacent edge of the bottom A, a fragment only of the bottom being shown. In folding or collapsing these pieces when hinged together both A and C will bend laterally to a curve, so that their edges will coincide, respectively, with the curves of the two opposite edges, of B, Fig. 17, while in opening or expanding them the lateral bend from end to end of all the parts A, B, and C will increase in proportion.4 Fig. 2O is a cross-section through the center, showing the parts folded; Fig. 21, a cross-section through the center, showing the parts expanded. It must be understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular form of curve. Thus in Fig. 17 the stringer is shown with two concave edges of dissimilar curvature 5 but in Figs. 22 and 23 I show stringere of different shape, which can be equally well used in the construction of a boat according to my invention. Thus in Fig. 22 the stringer has straight edges, while in Fig. 23 one edge is curved and the other isa wave-like edge.

My invention is well adapted to squarestern boats, and the arrangement by which the stern is collapsed is shown in Figs. 24 to 29, inclusive, the reference-letters being as far as possible the same as in the earlier parts of the speciiication. Thellines of this boat are similar to the boats hereinbefore set forth, the several parts or segments of the sides and bottom being continued on to form the end and hinged together by iiexible waterproof hinges. The stern pieces, however, maybe rigid or they may be even made of canvas or other suitable material kept strained by a Wooden transom, stretcher, or other means, as desired. a are segments hinged to the bottom segments A, c segments hinged to the sides G, and a' h intermediate pieces hinged, respectively, to and between a and c and to A and B. These pieces d, a', l), and c fold together into the boat to the position shown in Fig. 29 when the boat is collapsed, Figs. 27 and 28 showing them in the process of folding.

It will be readily perceived that my newA method of making all or at least some of the joints with their adjacent hinged edges of dissimilar curvature when laid iiat enables me to produce collapsible boats of much more varied models and of greater efficiency than has hitherto been possible with supercially rigid (or almost rigid) materials. For example, in the boats illustrated it would be impossible to make them so as to containfloorboards, seats, stringers, &c.,when collapsed-- that is, in a shallow form-if the adjacent hinged edges of the sides andbottom were not of dissimilar curvature. j In speaking of the curvature of these edges I am now referring to their curvature when thepieces are laid iiat before being hinged together.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a folding boat, the combination of three or more superiicially rigid, but longitudinally flexible pieces or sections forming the bottom and main sides, and an' intermediate piece or stringer with edge or edges of different shape or curvature to adjacent edge or edges of side and bottom when laid flat, between each main side and the bottom, the said pieces being of such a form that when hinged together and opened out, they form a u boat having lines curved lengthwise from end to end, but which when folded, will close up and lie flat in compact form, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a folding boat, of two superiioially comparatively rigid, but longitudinally flexible pieces or sections with an intervening stringer between formingthe bottom, and two supericially rigid, but longitudinally flexible sections forming the sides, with an intervening stringer between each of them and the bottom, said pieces or sections being of such a form that when hinged together at their adjacent edges, they shall form a boat which can be folded into compact form or opened out when required for use, substantially as described.

3. Thecombination with a folding boat, of a flexible but superiicially comparatively rigid longitudinal stringer so disposed in a curve IOO IIO

and hinged to the laterally-bent folding sides, that as the sides straighten in folding the boat, the Stringer straightensin unison and folds up against the side, but when the boat is expanded it lies edgewise to the side, and distributes the thrust and tension of the stretcher an'd seats, substantially as described.

4. In a foldingA boat, having longitudinal stringers hinged to the main sides inside, the combination therewith of a stretcher in two parts with a central pivot and overlapping ends, the extremities being pin-jointed to the Stringer on either side of boat, and adapted to keep the boat open in its extended position, or fold when the boat is collapsed, substantially as set forth.

5. In a'folding boat, the combination with the main sides and bottom of bilge-stringers which are located between the sides and bottom of two layers with two layers of waterproof canvas riveted between, the edges of said canvas being bifurcated and riveted over are located between the sides and bottom, of

one or more layers in combination with strips of waterproof canvas, the opposite edges of which are secured to the layer or layers at their adjacent edges, forming the subsidiary hinge, and strips of -balata belting or other suitable material riveted'through the planking on'the inner side at the joint to form the hinges propel', substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. TRELEAVEN READE.

Witnesses: l

G. C. DYMoND, W. l-l. BEEsKoN. 

